Woman attacked in NYC Whole Foods sues store for not keeping shoppers safe
A woman bashed in the head with a glass bottle while shopping at Whole Foods claims in a lawsuit that the Midtown store failed to keep its customers safe.
Cassidy Arkin, 49, was grocery shopping at the Sixth Avenue supermarket in October when she was blindsided by a rampaging maniac, authorities said.
Michael Howell, 33, allegedly attacked a 24-year-old man outside the store with a glass bottle, then went into the shop, got another bottle and slammed Arkin with it in front of a food counter.
He then fled into a nearby subway, rode the train one stop to Rockefeller Center and rocked a 55-year-old passenger there with yet another bottle, authorities said.
Arkin suffered a severed earlobe and staples in her scalp, and was pulling shards of glass out of her body.
Whole Foods failed to properly hire, supervise and train employees tasked with protecting shoppers, she contended in a Manhattan Supreme Court lawsuit filed Wednesday.
The Harlem-based producer and director, who is seeking unspecified damages, said she suffers from permanent physical injuries and mental anguish following the attack.
Howell, an eight-time offender, is locked up on Rikers Island on assault charges.
The criminal case is pending.
Arkin and her lawyer declined to comment.
Whole Foods did not respond to a message seeking comment.
